Has there ever been a more exciting time to be a feminist?

For Edwina Throsby, Head of Talks and Ideas at Sydney Opera House and curator of All About Women festival, there’s never been a more exciting time to be a feminist.

Suffragettes to social media I wanted to provide space for generations of women to come together to think about where feminism has come from as a movement, and where it’s going. So I’ve invited someone from each of the four waves of feminism to share the stage on a panel that will look to the past to find inspiration for the future.

The first wave of Western feminism was about basic rights – suffrage and full citizenship, and the brilliant feminist historian, Barbara Caine will be analysing its greatest achievements and failures. The second wave was about women’s lib, the sexual revolution, and changing basic notions around what a woman could do. Legendary Australian editor, journalist and writer Anne Summers will review the contribution of her generation. Rebecca Walker, who coined the phrase “third-wave feminism” in an essay for Ms magazine in 1992, will discuss her era’s concern with representation and identity. And the fourth wave … is there even a fourth wave? This deliberately leaderless movement is marked by its diversity, and ideas around intersectionality. Actor, activist, comedian and podcaster Nakkiah Lui will be sharing her thoughts on this.

Grabbing back: women in the age of Trump I also wanted to invite to the festival women who challenge sexism and find power in their communities. Tarana Burke, founder of the #metoo movement, is changing the way women endure sexual harassment and abuse, maybe forever. She and American author Fran Lebowitz will discuss feminism’s responses to Donald Trump.

Disability & intersectionality I wanted to recognise that, traditionally, Western feminism hasn’t done a very good job of including the voices and the experiences of women who aren’t white, middle class or able-bodied. So for the first time at All About Women, there will be a panel featuring women with disabilities, including the formidable disability advocate Samantha Connor and writer and performer Kath Duncan.

Trans like me And, because feminism should find space for all people who don’t easily fit into patriarchal structures, this is a discussion between non-binary British writer and musician CN Lester; ABC broadcaster and trans man Eddie Ayres; and actor, comedian and trans woman Jordan Raskopoulos.

Smashing the Patriarchy *new event* Finish the day with a discussion about the deeper, systemic and structural factors behind female oppression and inequality. Join Manal al-Sharif, Clementine Ford & Van Badham as they cover topics across a broad spectrum: sexual harassment and violence, domestic assault, workplace inequality, domestic labour and cultural representation. This important discussion takes an inter-cultural perspective and doesn’t just focus on western countries – unpacking how the experience of women across the world is both similar and different, and exploring the things that unify us. Join these patriarchy smashing women as they talk constructively about the ways that structures of inequality can be subverted, challenged, and perhaps even eventually overthrown.